Associate Director, Business Operations

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Organization Overview

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Business Operations will negotiate complex Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) contracts while driving digital transformation of CMC-related efforts via technology-enabled automation. This role requires extensive CMC knowledge, exceptional business judgment, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to manage multiple high-stakes initiatives with rigorous attention to detail.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and negotiate complex contracts with external Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), ensuring favorable terms that align with organizational objectives and timelines
• Leverage the latest technologies to streamline and automate CMC operational processes, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce cycle times, and optimize resource allocation through innovative digital solutions
• Shepherd multiple concurrent initiatives through organizational processes, identifying potential roadblocks early and implementing proactive solutions to keep programs on track
• Support alliance management for CMC-specific relationships, including developing and maintaining comprehensive tracking systems for key performance indicators (KPIs) across programs
• Coordinate CMC pilot programs to evaluate vendor capabilities and assess emerging technologies

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum 7 years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry with proven track record of successfully negotiating complex contracts with CDMOs
• Strong scientific background to support CMC efforts
• Experience supporting Request for Proposals (RFPs) and drafting and redlining Work Orders for CMC services

Additional Skills/Preferences

• Strong analytical skills with demonstrated ability to develop, track, and report on key performance indicators and program metrics
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to influence and collaborate across all organizational levels
• Demonstrated "go-getter" mentality with self-starting capabilities, proactive approach to identifying and solving operational challenges, exceptional ability to multi-task effectively, and relentless drive to reach goals and deliver results
• Exceptional attention to detail with proven ability to maintain accuracy while managing multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously
• Superior organizational skills with demonstrated ability to prioritize effectively and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced research environment
• Proven ability to document, standardize, and systematize complex processes to enable scalability and knowledge transfer
• Proficient in systems to support contracts management and KPI tracking
• Prior work with cross-functional scientific teams and ability to translate complex scientific concepts into operational requirements
• Experience with AI/ML tools and emerging technologies for process automation and optimization
• Previous experience working with or for biotechs to enable CMC activities

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is

Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.

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